تقييم استعمال تكنولوجيا المعلومات و الاتصالات لدى طلاب الصيدلة بجامعة دمشق

Abstract EN

Background & Objective: The medical and pharmaceutical education is witnessing a real revolution with the emergence of computer-assisted learning and internet-mediated education as new tools in selfeducation.

Investigating knowledge, skills and attitudes of pharmacy faculty students at Damascus University in relation to the use of information and communication technology (ICT).

Material& methods: A questionnaire with 29- multiple-choice items concerning the topic of this study was prepared and distributed to a sample of 500 students.

Results: In this study, female and male students were 402 (%80.4) and only 98(%19.6), respectively.

Home was found to be the most preferable place to use computer (%95) and internet (%89.4).

A percentage of 61.4% own a personal computer, however 53% use the computer with other family members.

A percentage of %38.6 have used a computer for 5 years or more and a approximately half of the students ranked themselves as competent in some basic skills.

More than 70% rated the benefit received from “Computer and its Applications in Pharmacy” course between medium and very poor and 68% prefer to learn it in the first year.

Internet was the most used program in study, however the slow speed was the main obstacle that limits its use.

The study revealed that students used computer and internet for personal uses more than study (p < 0.001).

Students showed great interest in placing lecture notes on the faculty website and agreed that this shall not prevent them from attending lectures.

Statistical studies according to gender and year demonstrated significant differences with regards to computer ownership, experience and frequency of using computer, skills, and attitudes towards the difficulty of internet use.

Conclusion: Pharmacy students at Damascus University possess good computer and internet skills and are qualified to enter the e-learning world however the faculty should provide them with the required training